Chapter 276: The Gap in Identity

 Chapter 276: The Gap in Identity

The day after Yan Wenkai's birthday, Xiao Yeyang and Dong Yuanxuan, Su Hongxin, and the others were about to leave. Li Xingnian also took Li Zixuan and Li Zixin back to the provincial capital on the same day, and they could conveniently travel together for a while.

At the dock, Li Zixuan and Li Zixin were holding onto Daohua's hand with reluctant expressions.

"I really don't want to go home so soon!"

Daohua: "I don’t want you to leave either. If I had known earlier, you should have come to play with me sooner."

She had already heard from Madam Li that her aunt and second aunt had already found a match for her cousin Zixuan, and after the New Year, they would finalize the engagement as soon as Zixuan had a look. After that, there wouldn’t be many opportunities for them to play together.

On the other side, Yan Wenxiu, Yan Wenkai, and Yan Wentao were also saying their goodbyes to Xiao Yeyang and the others.

Xiao Yeyang had planned to say a few words to Daohua before leaving, but seeing that they were almost boarding the ship and the Li sisters were still holding onto Daohua, he suddenly felt quite frustrated.

Daohua, that girl, she didn’t even think of coming over to say goodbye.

In the end, until the ship set off, Xiao Yeyang still didn’t have a chance to speak to Daohua alone.

Looking at Dong Yuanxuan and the others chatting behind him, Xiao Yeyang suddenly felt that they were a bit in the way. If they weren’t there, he could have spoken to Daohua a bit more.

"Looks like I should bring fewer people next time."

Just as he muttered that, Su Hongxin walked over, surprised, "Young Prince, what did you just say?"

Xiao Yeyang rolled his eyes at him: "I said the scenery around here is really nice."

Su Hongxin looked around, scratching his head in confusion: "Where’s the nice part? I don’t see any difference. We've come and gone so many times, it’s still the same."

Soon, he stopped thinking about it and laughed: "That guy, Yan Wenkai, used to say he wouldn’t eat what my sister made, but now he’s eating the most of the Ru Yi cake that Shiyu made."

Dong Yuanxuan chuckled: "That guy is a foodie, as long as it’s food, he’ll eat it."

Su Hongxin stubbornly said: "It must also be because my sister’s cooking is so good."

Suddenly, a light breeze blew through.

"Sniff, sniff!"

Su Hongxin’s nose twitched a few times: "What’s that smell? Did any of you burn incense?"

Dong Yuanxuan sniffed carefully: "It’s not incense, it’s medicinal fragrance."

Meanwhile, Xiao Yeyang didn’t say anything. In his mind, he recalled the scene in the garden pavilion where Daohua had been applying medicine to him, and the corner of his mouth involuntarily curled up.

Dong Yuanxuan noticed Xiao Yeyang tightening his sleeve, and his eyes flickered.

Yesterday, the young prince had left alone again, and it was said that he had sat in the pavilion with Yan’s younger sister for quite a while.

At the same time, in the cabin, Li Xingnian was talking to Li Zixuan and Li Zixin.

Li Xingnian asked with a smile: "Did you have fun at your aunt’s house?"

Li Zixin immediately nodded: "It was fun. Not only did we study together with our cousin, but she also took us to several banquets and even took us to the garden estate."

Li Xingnian asked: "But did you only play? Did you study etiquette properly with Teacher Shen?"

They had brought the two sisters over to their younger sister because they wanted them to learn proper etiquette. Compared to the noble families, merchant families were somewhat lacking in terms of manners and decorum.

This time, it was Li Zixuan who replied.

"Father, mother, and uncle and aunt's intentions, I understand. I have been learning proper etiquette with my younger sister."

Li Xingnian nodded with satisfaction: "That’s good. It’s never a bad thing to learn more about etiquette. A well-mannered person is never at fault, as long as one is reasonable, we have no fear wherever we go."

Li Zixuan nodded.

During their stay at her aunt’s house, she had really learned a lot, many things she hadn’t come into contact with before.

Take banquets for example. At gatherings of merchant families, the conversations mostly revolve around clothes, jewelry, food, and entertainment, often filled with boasting and comparison.

While girls from official families might do the same, they were much more reserved. No matter what they were thinking inside, they could always maintain a graceful appearance on the outside, not causing unnecessary quarrels, and were more considerate and aware of the bigger picture.

Thinking about the fact that her marriage might be arranged soon after returning home, Li Zixuan’s heart felt uneasy. Hearing the cheerful laughter coming from the deck, she stood up and looked out.

She saw the young prince, who exuded an air of nobility, Young Master Dong with a scholarly smile, and Young Master Su who was straightforward and lively. A trace of sorrow appeared between Li Zixuan’s brows.

Which young girl doesn’t have dreams of love? Once upon a time, the man she imagined as her ideal companion was just like these refined young gentlemen. But now, these elegant men seemed to have no connection with her.

It was simply because she was the daughter of a merchant family!

Because she had never been exposed to it before, Li Zixuan didn’t feel the gap in identity and status too strongly. But since getting to know Xiao Yeyang and his group through her cousin, she realized that there was an insurmountable chasm between merchant families and aristocratic families.

The disparity in status was simply too great, and it was destined that they could never be together.

Thinking this, Li Zixuan’s gaze quickly fell on Xiao Yeyang.

The young prince and her cousin—she hoped it wasn’t as she feared, or else her cousin would surely end up heartbroken.

There was nothing she could do. The young prince’s status was too noble. Even though her uncle was a Prefectural official, the difference in their positions was still too large, unless her cousin was willing to be a concubine.

But with her cousin's character, how could she possibly agree to that?

Fortunately, her cousin didn't seem to have any special feelings for the young prince at the moment. Li Zixuan hoped it would stay that way.

Yan Residence

After the Li sisters left, Daohua became quieter. She no longer participated in gatherings or went out shopping. She just hid in the courtyard, focusing on looking over the accounts.

Yan Yile was still not used to it: "Ah, if only the two Li cousins hadn’t left. This way, we could still go out to play occasionally."

Main Courtyard

Because after the New Year, Yan Zhigao had to go to the capital for his official duties, Madam Li had to start preparing early.

"Mother, you’ve been packing for half a month already, why are you still busy?" Daohua came over and saw Madam Li still running around, unable to help but ask.

Madam Li didn’t stop her work: "Your father will definitely have to meet some colleagues in the capital, I have to prepare everything properly. I can’t let your father lose face."

Daohua nodded: "Yes, yes, mother is right. By the way, mother, you should send someone to clean the house in the capital ahead of time."

Madam Li gave her a sidelong glance and smiled: "Do you think I need you to remind me? A few days ago, when I sent the New Year’s gifts to your aunt, I had someone go with them to clean up the house. When your father goes, the house will be ready for him to move in directly."

Daohua flattered her: "Mother, you really thought of everything."

Madam Li couldn’t be bothered with her daughter’s teasing and continued: "This time, your elder brother will also go to the capital with your father to broaden his horizons."

Daohua was a bit surprised: "Is that necessary?"

Madam Li replied: "Of course it is. Your brother has been a scholar for several years now, and he’s studied at Wangyue Academy for three years. His knowledge is solid, but his experience is still lacking. Let him see more of the world; there’s only benefits and no harm."

Daohua paused for a moment, thinking of scenes from the novels and TV shows she had seen in her past life, and then reminded her: "Then, mother, you must have someone follow my brother closely, so that in the end, he doesn't bring a wife back."

Madam Li glared at Daohua: "Do you really talk about your own brother like that?"

(End of this chapter)